Page 63 of A Bargain with the Fae King

Bile burns my throat. A fae died searching for May. One of their friends, their comrades. And they still have her, my sister. I clasp a hand over my mouth, holding in the scream begging to rip from my throat.

Galen recovers first. “What does it say?”

“They’ve changed the meeting point. They now want to meet at Keles, at sunset on the seventh day.”

“Keles.” Sylvie’s voice is a breathless whisper. “The Shadow Lands.”

Tears blur my vision. Every moment the news gets worse and worse.

Ambrose swallows visibly. “It’s near the border, but it likely means they’ve slipped out of our territory. Probably felt the wards going up and ran.” He sits down heavily on the bench near us. “I’m sorry, Lia. We’ll keep searching, but we need to have a backup plan, something to offer them, just in case.”

Sylvie wraps her arms around me as I nod to Ambrose, unable to form words around the lump lodged in my throat.

Everything keeps getting worse.

Sometime later, we try to train, but I can’t pay attention. My thoughts keep straying to May and the Unseelie, earning me a few bruises and a hurt tailbone. I thought a bath would help, but it only serves to remind me of the one I shared with Riven two days ago.

Not the kind of distraction I need.

He still hasn’t returned, and no one really seems to know when he will. Before the ball, but that’s so vague its laughable.

More fruitless searching through the library fills my afternoon, with one break where Karin has me fitted for a ballgown I have no desire to wear. I select books off the shelves as Solona pores through them, assisted for a time by Sylvie and Galen, who probably need the distraction as much as I do. More spell books, legends about old relics that could be helpful—if anyone actually knew where they were.

Weariness urges me to sleep, but the thoughts running through my head won’t let me fade into the soothing darkness I crave. I’ve worried so much for my sister, but what about Dad and Elise? Guilt crushes me every time I think of them. They’ve almost lost May once. Now she is gone again, and me with her.

Did they find my phone with my message? Or worse, are they already planning a double funeral?

I grip the sheets in my fist and let out a cry of frustration. God, what have I done? I have to go back, to check and see. I mentioned it, sort of, but no one will take me back to Virideria, and especially not to the door, without Riven. Even tried reminding them that I’m Riven’s consort, their Lady of the Forest. Hell, if that gave me any kind of real power, I was sure going to use it.

They almost budged at that.

Almost.

Apparently any request from me is still second to orders from their king. Freaking figures.

I tug the sheets over my head and pray for sleep.

It almost works…until there’s a crash in the other room.

Chapter 20

Isitboltuprightin the bed. Darkness reigns, both within and without. Noise echoes into the room again, shuffling followed by the hard thud of something large knocking into the furniture.

My adrenaline kicks up, heart pounding.

Oh, to have a knife, a sword, a skillet—anything to protect myself. I’ve got nothing, just my poor self-defense skills.

I creep on silent, bare feet to the wall separating the bedroom from the sitting room beyond. A chill skitters up my spine when I hear a loud grunt, followed by something, or rather someone, knocking into more furniture.

How did they get past the guards?They were always watching this hallway, checking to make sure no one disturbed their king’s rooms. Riven promised me I’d be under his protection, and maybe I’m naïve, but I believe it. He’s been true to his word thus far…though he’s not here.

Steeling my nerves, I step into the threshold and shove back the curtain of vines. A table is knocked over, another askew. A shadow in the form of a man sits on the couch.

A scream lodges in my throat as I brace to bolt back into the bedroom.

A disoriented groan stops me. “Lia.”

My breath catches. I know that voice.

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